Heritage News 003

First issued: 22nd April 2013

Convent Guard Room As part of the planning process and as a building of significant heritage value, the Heritage Trust has been consulted on a Government Project to convert the Convent Guard Room into the main entrance to No6 Convent Place. Even though this is not a listed building and the Trust is therefore not required to be consulted prior to the DPC process being initiated, representatives of the Board met the GoG’s project manager on Wednesday 3rd April in a very open meeting where the project was explained and our views sought. Because what is discussed at the these consultation meetings is not necessarily the final form of the project, the Board decided the responsible thing was to wait until the project was made public through the DPC agenda before giving details and asking for the view of its members. The Trust’s initial reaction to the proposed project was no as it was strongly felt that the proposed alterations would change the nature of use of the building for good, however after balancing the facts, the Board feel this is a sensitively thought through project in heritage terms. The first question asked was WHY this project needed to happen and we were given a number of answers: 1) The Guard Room would soon be handed over to GoG. 2) Issues of security. The current arrangements, by having both the members of the public and staff entering through the same door, do not provide security to members of staff working at No6 3) The desire for a grander entrance.   Whilst the third reason is not one that holds any weight with the Trust, it was felt the second needed further explanation as it is recognised that security requirements change over time. The Trust was also concerned at the loss of the tradition of the changing of the Guard from this location and crossing the road by the Guard, a traditional aspect of this end of Main Street. This we were informed had also been a concern of the Government and it was for this reason that the Guardroom would be repositioned to the north of the Guard Room, within the western facing façade of No6. Accepting the principle of change of use from guard room to reception area due to a) the need for the building to have a use and b) security considerations, the detail of the proposal was looked at. It is generally felt that the treatment of the façade of No6 Convent Place and creation of a new doorway for the new Guard Room, has been designed sensitively and will incorporate period features that will not be out of place on the square. The existing façade of the Guard Room is being respected and will receive specialist conservation treatment during its restoration as will any internal architectural features discovered during the works. The replacement of the back wall with security glazing we feel has been sensitively designed and will give the building a new atmosphere, once inside. It was important to the Trust that this change was not appreciable from the outside. Our objections come at the style of covering over of the existing courtyard. The proposed glazed dome is totally out of character and is not an architectural style that is found on any building in Gibraltar, other than perhaps the dome on the bell tower of the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned. The dome will be visible from the street and will totally dominate the Georgian pediment on the guard room, which is what we feel should be the feature of the entrance. A lower profile roof covering that is not visible from the Main Street is strongly recommended. The Board felt that this building is a fine example of Gibraltar’s Georgian architecture and although the project will not change the façade, in fact it will guarantee its conservation and restoration thereby giving it life into the foreseeable future, the fundamental change of use is one that needs to be more carefully considered and is not one that the Trust has taken lightly. As a Trust, we feel that our duty is to ensure that any changes that are made to our urban heritage are well thought through, sustainable, and carried out with the best interests of the building at its heart. We will need to give our views at the forthcoming DPC and would like your opinions on the proposed changes, is the Trust right in accepting the principle of change on this building? What are the alternatives? A sure way of losing an historical building is the failure to give it a relevant use. The plans are available for public viewing at the offices of the Town Planners at Europort. We also have a copy here at the Main Guard which members are able to view. The application is not yet up on the Government website. Public consultation window on Government Projects The aim of public participation in the planning process and consultation of consultative bodies such as the Trust is to ensure that the final project is in the best interests of Gibraltar, the community and in this case heritage preservation. Having seen the evolution of this project and what it could have been, the Trust feels that this proposal takes the long term survival of the building into account. Echoing our concerns in our last e-newsletter, if GoG is committed to an open and public planning system, it needs to put its projects out for public participation with more notice than the current 5 working day run up to the forthcoming DPC. Projects such as this are of public interest and the public should be afforded the time to view the plans and give their views without feeling that they are being presented with a fait accomplit. Time is needed by all parties to digest the facts and formulate an opinion in a calm manner.